Effects of work load, role ambiguity, and Type A personality on anxiety, depression, and heart rate

Studied Type A personality (hard driving, persistent, involved in work) as a conditioner of the effects of quantitative work load and role ambiguity (stresses) on anxiety, depression, resentment, and heart rate (strains) among 73 male users (mean age, 23 yrs) of a university computer system that was approaching a 23-day shutdown. Each respondent was his own control. Stress, personality, and psychological strain were assessed by questionnaire, and heart rate was measured. Change scores were then analyzed. Role ambiguity was positively associated with anxiety, depression, and resentment; subjective work load was positively associated only with anxiety. Anxiety was positively related to heart rate. The relationship between work load and anxiety was greatest for Type A persons, and a similar but nonsignificant trend appeared for the effects of anxiety on heart rate. Response and respondent specificity are discussed. (20 ref)